RP Reactivated M3: Dune Prowling

[Commissar Farzi]

RP Date

YE 44.2.16

RP Location

Sandraker

It had been over two weeks since the failed mission to the outpost-it hadn't kept them from sending in a drone and shelling it, but Steiner had been less than pleased by the results. They'd found a patrol, skitter mines-which had turned out to be a genuine concern, but had nothing else to show for the expenditure of resources. Several patrols had already encountered them-though while they were easy enough to spot once they started moving the trick was seeing them before that happened. Conventional minesweeping equipment was out of the question, so until they could figure out exactly how they worked-or even if they could be jammed, all they could do was set their sensors fine enough that they went off at even the slightest feedback.

Not ideal in the least.

At the moment, the grandmaster was currently pouring over a tactical map he'd brought up on his hud. "So you're saying engagements with patrols are ramping up?" He looked at Revjak; the squire nodded. "Yes grandmaster." He pointed down-indicating as a series of rolling dunes to the east labeled with a bright red four; "Mainly coming from east/southeast-most of it's just light ordinance; the odd scout vehicle and mechanized infantry, even a few technicals, oddly enough-though one of the patrols did report what looked like a giant bug of some kind disappearing into the duststorm; though we haven't been able to confirm as of yet." There wasn't any native life present on this world-at least none that they were aware of-a problem that they'd have to deal with at some point. The mechanoid filed that away for later, returning to the subject at hand. "Any indication as to why the shift?" A shrug, followed by Revjak taking a sip from the bottle he'd been drinking from and grimacing; probably swamp water. "At this point we don't know; it could be they're trying to find another route of attack, maybe trying to find away around-hard to say." A pause.

"Take your cohort and move to cover the area to the south-intercept any patrols that move through the area." The grandmaster replied, indicating the aforementioned sector; Revjack looked at him for a moment, seemingly taken aback. "Grandmaster-are you sure-if we head east we should-" Steiner silenced him with a raised hand. "I am certain; you have your orders-carry them out." The man hesitated for a moment, then saluted; he knew it wrinkled the squire's pride as a noble, but he had his reasons. Now he just had to hope they were up to the task. With a sigh that sounded like tearing paper, he toggled his comm. "Yeomans Auli'li, Morris, and Tacho-report to the main Gantry."

-----
The airlock cycled as Morris shook the last of the dust off his hardsuit-guard duty was guard duty; no matter what planet you were on. Patrolling trenches, manning posts and the occasional bit of blood-pumping combat when some gribbly trooper decided they were feeling lucky and decided to take a few potshots. They and a few of the Common Guard had taken bets to see how many times a sniper would take a shot at them. Despite their technological superiority-they had lousy aim-hell anyone would have lousy aim on this planet-but they were still going to get made fun of. The big man was looking forward to a good meal and possibly seeing his family tonight when the words that every yeomen dreads came through: "Yeomans Auli'li, Morris, and Tacho-report to the main Gantry."

"Thurok-Fucking Ancestor's damn it!" He snarled as he grabbed his shield and weapons; he'd just gotten off his watch too! Morris stomped down the corridor that would take him to the main gantry, cursing all the while as his fellows looked on in sympathy-and in some cases laughter before turning back to their work. Arriving minutes after the call he did his level best to keep his irritation out of his voice. "Yeoman Sergeant Jacob Morris reporting." He said with a sharp salute.

 

[HarperMadi]

Yeoman Andrake listened to the overhead call as she stepped from her hydroponics Bay towards a well deserved shower. Fuckin' safe! Her thought rAng like a bell as she pumped her fist. "Still off mission, fuck yes! Been saving my ale rat, I'm'a have a good night!"

 

[Commissar Farzi]

"Andrake!" Morris shouted, seeing the short woman emerge from one of the bays-he could smell the tangy sweet smell of oil fruit wafting past, "Get your sorry ass over here-Grandmaster's got a mission for us!"

 

[HarperMadi]

"Fahaawk!" Mike cried out, her shouldersfalling back as she bent her knees, craning her head back to cry out. "I been saving my ale rat for months! I didn't hear my name called. And I just wanna get drunk and get some dick!"

Nonetheless, she complied. "My world burned and I have to deal with you people? Only thing worse than this rock's facking climate! I swear,some days I wished I'd stayed on Waterfall! Stuck in a new facking 'verse! Be a good girl, Daddy said, join the Navy, he said! It'll be fun, he said!"

 

[Charaa]

Auli sighed as she emerged from another place on base she’d been in doing busy work. “Man, it sucks being small, but atleast I can help” She muttered to herself as she walked, she passed another member on her list of Dirt. Whom made a comment about her. “Inbred shit for brain knucklehead” Auli’I muttered under her breath when she heard the call. “aw man, I need a shower damn it!” Auli said with a sigh, before making her way to the gantry as reported. “Yeomen Apprentice Smith, reporting as ordered!” Auli’I saluted smartly like Morris. Though She didn’t blame her big sister Mike for wanting the showers.

 

[Commissar Farzi]

Tacho was not having a good day-after she'd been forced to direct a number of the less-than-bright knuckleheads(an achievement that the Norian thought she'd never live to see, but yet here she was) after they'd caused a cave-in during an excavation on the lower-levels because someone had forgotten to space a single brace properly. She'd spent the better part of last sixteen hours trying to rescue the dig team-which in turn nearly ended yet another cave in but they'd done it. She was tired, aggravated, and in desperate need of a drink. And of course, Steiner just had to call her in-with a stream of muttered curses in both Nir'las and Trade she stopped by her quarters long enough to grab her Krysis Crixa-and strode into gantry. A feather drone detached, making to buzz around Morris's head-to which the big man did his level best to swat it down again. "Tacho reporting as ordered, Grandmaster." Her tone was somewhat less than respectful, not to mention Morris seemed just as aggravated as she was. "Hey, little fox!" She greeted Auli'li, and gave Mike a nod before ordering the drone to return to its mount figuring she'd tormented him enough. Morris for on his part simply glared at the alien, before returning his attention to the grandmaster.

If he was able to, Steiner likely would have opted, even just for a moment, to indulge in a bottle of strong, bitter ale. With a sigh, he toggled the crude projector they'd been using. "As you all are well aware, two weeks ago the recon in force sent north was a partial failure-while we were able to gather some intelligence as well as destroy a gribbly outpost," He pointed to the basin and an indicator-a tower with a small squid-like figure over it appeared, "We were not able to get a proper picture of their force composition, let alone their defensive response-that will change today."

The projector cycled a new slide, showing the base-the southeastern area had been marked in red. "In the last week, we have had increased reports of engagements with enemy patrols-at this time it is unknown whether or not this is a precursor to something larger or if just simply the enemy has set patrols too close to our holdings." The mechanoid took that moment to reveal a table with what seemed to be pistols, though they had an odd look to them-far bulkier than what they normally used, "Your objective is two fold-intercept and either destroy, or preferably drive them back-these pistols fire a small tracking device-a radio beacon as it were. Standard aerial tracking is somewhat less than useless given the extremely limited operating times of such craft, manned or no." Morris picked up one of the pistol, Tacho doing like wise-she racked the slide-smooth as butter. "Therefore you are tag any vehicles or personnel with these if possible should they retreat. Revejak will be on standby with Sapphire cohort to intercept any patrols that get past you."

"Grandmaster," Tacho said, already seeing a potential flaw in the plan, "If I may-wouldn't it be better for us to act as a Tracking party with the cohort in our role?" It made sense, Morris thought-a cohort would be better suited for their role having the manpower to spread across a wide area. "If such a thing were possible." Steiner replied, "Unfortunately they have grown quite adept at avoiding our larger forces-striking individual squadrons instead and they always outnumber them at least 2 to 1." He'd heard about that. "So you think they're looking to chip away at us?" He chimed in, rolling his shoulders as he holstered the pistol. "Indeed-I believe they are going for a defeat in detail-isolate smaller units with larger forces and destroy them-though their execution is somewhat lacking." Some wounded, a few dead-and while the yeoman accounted for themselves well, these constant actions would eventually sap them of their strength-leaving them vulnerable to a killing blow. "You all will make your way to the eastern sector-there you will begin your search." The aforementioned area was highlighted, "Once you have them tagged, we will track them to their den."

"And before it slips my mind-Andrake, you are now assigned as well-stay alert as we have reports of spider mines out there as well-good luck all of you-dismissed!" Steiner turned back his gantry-a large, empty cargo container serving as a desk for him as he filled out one of what seemed to be an endless stream of paperwork. His duties were unending it seemed...

Spoiler: OOC:

I spoke with Drew shortly after his retirement announcement, and got the go-ahead to take over Tacho as a GM NPC from here on out. I can only hope to do her justice.

 

[HarperMadi]

"So much for my nice night," Michelle deadpanned. She held a special hatred of spider mines. Unlike normal landmines where their threat was isolated to stepping on one, these things hunted. Actively. Normal detection and avoidance was difficult, and worse, they were fast. Even if a trooper could land a shot, it was difficult to hit something important. "Alright, what do we have for detection? And I'll need a spicier rifle. I'd prefer to hang back from the formation, providing overwatch and sniper support. Now. I propose an ambush. Tacho, your feather drones get us close by spotting a patrol so we can get in their way. Stock standard ambush. Morris, Auli'i, I want you ready to hit hard and fast. Tacho from the air, me from range. You two get right up in their faces and tag 'em before forcing the retreat. Unless we just hide in the sand, tag 'em, and let 'em roll past us to be forced back by Sapphire."

 

[Charaa]

The short Fox Anthro, Auli'i, grinned as she was greeted. "Hey mama, ready for some more outdoors craziness and fun?" she asked with a jokingly sarcastic tone of voice. Indeed, Sandrakar, the planet they were on, was anything but fun, but it was certainly crazy, especially with the presence of the Mishhuvurthyar, which the Iron Company called the Gribblies. Auli'i checked her weapons, making sure they were ready and in working order, before she listened to the Grandmaster, the man she affectionately called Grampa out of respect. He began to talk about their objective, particularly focusing on the pistols they had to use, which fired small tracking devices—a radio beacon of sorts.

She thought it was a good invention despite Iron Company's technical limitations. Their objective was twofold: intercept and either destroy or, preferably, drive back the Gribblies. Additionally, they were to tag any vehicles or personnel with the tracking devices if possible, should they retreat. Auli'i nodded her head as the clever little fox thought about it. It seemed straightforward to her.

Auli'i admired the Grandmaster's resolve and experience. He had seen countless battles and had always managed to keep his composure. His strategies were sound, and his leadership was inspiring. As he spoke, Auli'i felt a sense of determination growing within her. She was ready to face the Gribblies and protect her comrades.

The mission briefing concluded, and Auli'i took a moment to reflect on the plan. The tracking pistols were a crucial part of their strategy. By tagging the Gribblies' vehicles and personnel, they could gather valuable intelligence and anticipate their movements. This would give the Iron Company a tactical advantage and help them devise better strategies for future engagements.

As she finished her preparations, she couldn’t help but reflect on the nature of their mission. Sandrakar was a harsh and unpredictable environment, with dangers lurking around every corner. The Mishhuvurthyar were formidable opponents, and the Iron Company needed every advantage they could get. The tracking devices, though simple, could provide valuable intel on enemy movements and positions.

Auli'i looked around at her comrades, all of whom were gearing up for the mission. Each one was focused and determined, understanding the stakes. The Grandmaster’s words echoed in her mind as she felt a surge of determination. They had a job to do, and they would see it through.

The clever little fox tightened the straps on her armor and took a deep breath. The outdoors craziness was about to begin, and she was ready for whatever came next.

Auli'i was about to turn and ask her mother, Tacho, about the Power Armor when Grandmaster Steiner added that the group going on the mission would make their way to the eastern sector. There, they will begin their search. The aforementioned area was highlighted on their map, and Auli'i grinned at the thought of being able to track the gribblies to their den. "Then it's Gribbly flambe," Auli'i joked to herself quietly before closing her eyes to focus.

Her concentration was interrupted when Mike, whom Auli'i affectionately called her big sister, began to speak. The short fox listened attentively as Mike laid out the plan. Auli'i nodded, her mind already racing through the possible scenarios. The eastern sector was known for its treacherous terrain. The idea of using Tacho’s feather drones for reconnaissance was brilliant; these drones were lightweight, nearly silent, and equipped with advanced sensors that could detect the creatures from a distance.

The plan was straightforward but required precise coordination. As Auli'i checked her own weapons one last time, she felt a mixture of excitement and determination. They had the element of surprise, and with Mike providing sniper support, their chances of success were high.

She imagined the moment they would spring the ambush, the adrenaline pumping through her veins as she and Morris charged in, tagging the gribblies with the tracking devices. The idea of hiding in the sand, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, appealed to her cunning nature. And knowing that Sapphire would be ready to force the retreat added an extra layer of security to their plan.

Auli'i took a deep breath, readying herself for the mission ahead. The eastern sector awaited, and with her team by her side, she was prepared to face whatever challenges came their way. The clever little fox was ready to turn the tables on the gribblies and bring the fight to their doorstep.

 

[Commissar Farzi]

"Who died and put you in charge?" Morris joked as he hefted his combat shield, while technically he outranked her the big man was open to ideas, "It's a good plan Mike, but there's a couple of problems; the damned weather's been stirring up more than usual the last week or so-I don't need to tell you what that means." Sensors were worse than usual, and visibility even more so, "We've had a few squads creep up on us in the trenches-even with motion and IR." That had been fun-especially when a gribbly had decided to roll into their trench-it got three guys and wounded two others before they'd pinned the damned thing with spears before hosing it with rifle fire.

The flamethrower had been icing on the cake-not that it had burned long but it did the job. "If you want a better rifle you're gonna have to either stick to your stinger or take a helstrom." He knew she wouldn't be pleased by that-those things were stupidly explosive.

Tacho smiled at Auil'li, "Always kiddo," before nodding to Morris in agreement; "My feather drones should be able to partially penetrate the muck." That was a good point-her Crixa armor was a good deal more advanced than their own kit. "Other problem is even if we had a good ambush spot those damned spider mines are more likely going to wind up creeping on us if we sit still too long, much less an infantry squad." The big man looked pensive for a moment, before snapping his fingers. "Might be better if we did a slow, steady sweep of the sector-little riskier but better than getting caught flat-footed because someone wandered on top of us." Or had a spider mine wander into whatever nook they were hiding in. The airlock cycled as it pumped the breathable air out, and an alarm sounded as the heavy blast door opened. "Make sure your O2's topped off and your armor's seals are tight!" This drew a laugh from Tacho as the doors opened up. "Hopefully Revjak can keep his shit together on Sapphire's end while we do the heavy lifting." A snort from the big man.

"We'll see." He replied as a defender rolled up, Tacho taking to the sky-made him wonder if her days of getting tagged by flak batteries were over-maybe not.
----

Ten minutes later the crew was deposited at the edge of the eastern sector with the norian landing beside them-the driver wasn't willing to risk getting the APC stuck some random ditch or ravine. "Alright, radio checks people and assume standard search pattern-try to stay in visual range with each other-I don't want anyone getting lost." Having that happen was practically a death sentence...especially out here. "Sapphire, this Havoc 1-1, you read, over?" Morris wasn't initially going to reach out to Revjak but figured it was better that he knew they'd arrived rather than assume the worst, "I do Yeoman Sergant-over." Revjak had answered himself; wonderful. "We've just arrived at the edge of the eastern perimeter; and beginning search and destroy mission, over." A pause, followed by a terse "Acknowledged, over and out." Tacho's voice came over the radio after Revjak cut the comm. "Revjak's probably got his panties in a bunch that he wasn't chosen for the mission." Morris shrugged. "Probably, now let's concentrate on sending the uglies running."

 

[HarperMadi]

"Aye, Papi," Mike responded over the radio. "I hear you loud and clear."

Shouldering her stinger, Mike casually checked visibility, considering her options given the weather. She would have to be closer than she liked, and her shotgun was a little too up close and personal for her taste. "Radio's good, yellow-100 on air, green on ammo, green on water. You want my positioner live or you guys want me sneaky-deaky? Cause I'm gonna be cute as fuck as I gut a gribbly."

 

[Commissar Farzi]

"Mike if you're what counts as cute," Morris jibed to the small woman as he mentally braced himself for the worst once they were in the crags, "Then I'd hate to see what my daughter's going to be like when she grows up." The yeoman sergeant considered his options, before coming up with a plan. "Alright; we've got armor-" He jerked a thumb towards Tacho, who simply waggled her fingers, "-So we're doing this by the book-Tacho I want you in the center on point-Auli'il on the right, I'll take left-Mike towards the rear-then we sweep the area." Simple and straightforward-and who didn't like that? It was standard Company doctrine regarding powered armor- the operator formed the centerpiece while the infantry supported them.

Come to think of it, was almost like when they operated with tanks. Who'd of thought?

"Aww, hiding behind my apron strings again Morris?" The Norian teased as she hefted her plasma carbine. "No, but you've got enough firepower to make the opening shots count." Or at the very least be a high enough value target that they wouldn't notice the three yeomen closing in on them. To that, just she laughed. "Don't worry big guy-Momma Tacho will make sure nothing happens to you." Morris simply sighed and gave the order to move out. The crag they found themselves in was just wide enough for three men to walk abreast with the ground being rough and broken-footing wasn't great though the grit wasn't as bad as it usually was and you could actually see more than a few feet-though he couldn't make out the end it was clear enough to make out any movement.

He still didn't like it-all it would take was someone throwing a grenade or Ancestors' forbid a Gribbly dropped in on top of them; and that'd be it. He lifted his combat shield, hammer in hand ready for anything. "Here we are, once again in a nice little tunnel just right for a monster's meal!" The joy of having the norian on point...

 

[Charaa]

Auli'i stayed close on the right, her keen eyes scanning the surroundings for any anomalies. Her sharp fox ears twitched at the sounds around her, always alert, but she couldn’t help but listen to her big sister Mike’s banter. It was a way to keep the tension at bay, and Mike was a natural at it.

Auli'i couldn’t suppress a chuckle, even as her eyes continued to scan the rocky terrain for any signs of the Mishhuvurthyar threat. The tension of the mission was palpable, but Mike’s lightheartedness made it easier to stay focused without being overwhelmed by stress. Auli'i appreciated that balance; it was one of the reasons she admired Mike so much.

Morris, the man who had adopted her and who was more of a father than anyone she’d ever known, chimed in. Auli'i knew Morris was talking about Helena, the infant who had become the light of his life. Auli'i felt a warmth in her chest at the mention of her little sister. Helena was just a baby now, but she was already a part of their family in every way that mattered.

“Don’t worry, Papa,” Auli'i replied with a playful grin, though she kept her eyes on the surroundings, alert for any sign of danger. “Helena will grow up to be a real beauty—possibly marry a prince?” She added a touch of humor to her voice, trying to lighten the mood even as her focus remained on the mission.

The idea of Helena growing up and marrying a prince was a whimsical one, a fantasy that felt far removed from the harsh realities of their current situation. But it was also a reminder of what they were fighting for—a future where Helena could grow up in a world free from the dangers of the Mishhuvurthyar and other threats.

As the banter continued, Auli'i’s sharp senses remained on high alert. The terrain was unforgiving, with jagged rocks and shifting sands that could easily conceal an enemy. But she trusted her instincts and her training, knowing that any threat would have a hard time slipping past her.

Helena might be a baby now, but Auli'i was determined to protect her future—and the futures of everyone she cared about. The mission ahead was dangerous, but with her family by her side, she knew they would prevail.

“Let’s get this done,” Auli'i murmured to herself, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the horizon. The Mishhuvurthyar wouldn’t know what hit them. And as always, Auli'i would be ready.

 

[HarperMadi]

Michelle, true to her style, stayed low, fast, slipping between cover as she covered her armor in grease and let the dust cover her in a layer of filth the same color as the air, letting herself be a shadow in a sandstorm that choked sensors and eyes alike, made it near impossible for her to take a range she liked. But it had its advantages. For one, this was one of the few worlds where "if I can't see them, they can't see me" was reasonably true. For two, it coated her armor to let her be unseen until she was close enough to land the cleanest of shots. The copper strip running from shoulder to hip to boot and into a spike caught the static from the too dry air, conducting the electricity into the ground below her, acting like a defensive lighting rod that the electromagnetics of her rifle could whip up the electrons, the magnetic fields of the air twisting the static into a cloud that would smite whoever got too close as though an angry god watched over her as she watched over the rest of her squad.

She kept Morris in her immediate view, Auli'i in her peripheral, and Tacho the air support indicator in her HUD. "Hey, Morris. When you're free, I wanted to ask if you... You want me to stay on your squad? Marshall gave me an offer. I declined. For the Waterfallan survivors. But leaving you alone is trouble. So I'm volunteering."

 

[Commissar Farzi]

The deep crag the group found themselves in opened up at 10 meters ahead into a shallow basin-at least 4 meters wide, though aside from the gently sloping hill none of them could make out the end of it as the dust storm had its more of its way out here; the ground had leveled out into hardpacked dirt. Morris sighed at Auli'i's comment. "Gods forbid that she should grow comely enough to catch a prince's eye-you think Revjak's bad-at least he's actually worth something." The big man had a point-most nobility had their heads up their asses and he didn't want Helena ending up as someone's mistress when she was older. That usually didn't end well. "And that's not my call Mike," Morris replied, not bothering to look back, "Side's, thought there were only a handful of-"

"Contacts!" Tacho's voice cut into their conversation, her voice sharp and direct, though quiet. Morris made a note to continue this later-and kicked himself for not paying attention before crouching down in an attempt to keep himself as small as possible. "How many?" The norian checked her sensors, her mindhive singing in response as it fed the sensor data to her, before pointing just ahead of them, "About 12 squid kittens and a truck." That was a surprise. "Think they're either stuck or possibly dismounts?" The norian shrugged in response, before arming her missile pods. "Maybe they're waiting for a mishu to cop one?" That drew a snort. "Hard to say."

"Alright, remember-we scorch and tag; we kill everyone and the only thing they're good for is salvage-Tacho suppress with missiles." Morris was already forming a plan, "Auli'i be ready to try and tag a few of them-Mike don't kill the truck outright-we need them to run-I'll handle any unwelcome surprises up close." The squad could now see the vague outlines of the gribbly vehicle and troops...

 

[Charaa]

The shortest member of the group, Auli'i, felt her fox ears twitch as she looked out into the deep crag where she and her team found themselves. The harsh environment was unforgiving, with jagged cliffs rising around them, and a shallow basin that seemed to be about 4 meters wide lay just 10 meters ahead of her position in the group. The dust storm that had rolled in was causing problems with visibility, the swirling sands making it difficult to see more than a few meters ahead. Despite the tense situation, Auli'i couldn't help but be distracted for a moment, letting out a little giggle.

“Noo, a billion times better than Revjak," she said with a playful tone, But then, her voice took on a more serious edge. "Okay, I am serious now, I promise. If I live long enough to see her find a boyfriend, that boy is going through a strict series of tests to prove himself worthy of her.” Though she was partly joking, Auli'i knew she would make sure her little sister's future boyfriend would treat her with the utmost respect. To Auli'i, Helena deserved nothing less than to be treated like a queen.

Her thoughts were cut short by a warning from Tacho, her mama, and a skilled Norian, who alerted the group to potential contact. The gravity of the situation hit Auli'i like a jolt, and she instantly dropped to the ground, making herself even smaller to avoid detection. The dust storm might have been a hindrance, but it also provided some cover, allowing her to blend into the environment.

The radio crackled with a report, Auli'i's sharp mind quickly processed the information. The 12 were NMX—Nekovalkyrja that had been corrupted and turned into enemies of Yamatai and now stood as a formidable foe against their own forces. These "squid kittens" were no ordinary adversaries; they were dangerous, and they were close.

“Copy that," Auli'i responded, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "I’ll make sure to tag a few of them.” Her playful demeanor vanished, replaced by the cold, calculating focus ready for battle.

As she hunkered down, Auli'i peered through the dust storm, her keen eyes trying to pick out any movement. The storm made it difficult, but she could just make out the vague outlines of the gribbly vehicle and the troops moving with it. The enemy was advancing, unaware of the ambush waiting for them.

Auli'i's fingers tightened around her weapon, her heart pounding with anticipation. This was what she had trained for, what she had prepared for. The Mishhuvurthyar were about to walk into a trap, and she was ready to do her part to ensure they didn't leave the crag alive.

She could feel the weight of the mission on her shoulders, but it wasn’t just about survival—it was about protecting her family, her team, and the future she hoped to build for her little sister. Auli'i's thoughts briefly flashed to Helena, and the promise she had made to herself to ensure her sister would grow up in a safer world.

With a final deep breath, Auli'i steadied herself, her mind clear and focused. The storm might obscure her vision, but her instincts were sharp. The enemy was close, and she was ready to strike. As the vague outlines of the NMX troops came into view, Auli'i’s grip tightened on her weapon, her body poised to spring into action

 

[HarperMadi]

"No-kill on the truck confirmed, assuming overwatch," Michelle's voice popped over the comms as she took off in a run up the side of the ravine, counting on her armor's thick coat of filth to hide her in the dust. "Target in sight, permission to pop the driver?"

She levelled her rifle, carefully taking aim at the shadowy figures in the soupy storm. "Cause I take the bitch in the seat, her friends are gonna scatter like roaches cause they found a sniper. Buy you time to tag the vic and bag a few to make it feel real. Tacho's missiles should keep them tight up against the truck. Give them enough jeebies to force the rush. Take down three and they're gonna bolt home... Hopefully. Bonus points if we look just incompetent enough for them to get away."

Kittens were smart. Chaotic stupid, but smart. "On your order, sergeant."

 

[Commissar Farzi]

'First rule of combat-no plan survives contact with the enemy.' Morris thought as the small woman sprinted up the hill, and while the chances were the cats would bolt-that, that wasn't a guarantee, but they could hope. "Might take fewer, might take more." He said quietly as he held up a hand, fore, middle, and index extended, followed by a sharp hiss to get the squad's attention. "Fire on my command-pick your targets, make 'em count, and hope like hell they don't get it together." The big man's voice was still quiet even over the radio to avoid the cat's hearing them through their helmets-a soft "Roger" from Tacho as she primed her pulse blasters to follow up the missiles, thrusters ready for a rapid acceleration. He counted down, each second followed with him softly counting down.

His hand formed a fist and he jerked down sharply with a harsh whisper of "Fire!" as he brought up his combat shield, unholsting his machine pistol from his belt. Tacho's missiles streaked outward as she took to the air while NMX nekos scattered-though one had the misfortune of taking a direct hit-the plate carrier issued by the mishu providing no protection as her internals were simply liquified by the missle punching through and sending her head and an arm flying-leaving little more than a nearly torsoless corpse on the ground; a few struck the truck and caused the armor to scorch and buckle but didn't seem to do any real damage-the shield wasn't up. Great. "Check your fire!" The big man roared, his machine pistol's steady "Tak-Tak" joining in, adding to the chaos but not really hitting anything. The alien didn't respond as she sent a few gauntlet pulses their way-hitting nothing but giving them something to worry about.

On their side of things-the Neko infantry had hit the dirt or found what little cover they could-behind the truck, a few stray rocks here and there but were still close enough to coordinate their fire; while somewhat inaccurate, a few did find Morris's combat shield-the thick combination of composites and monoplate receiving a few burns and some pockmarks but still holding fast; shame they didn't just cut and run...

 

[HarperMadi]

Michelle took her shot, pulling the trigger between heartbeats as her rifle barked once to attempt to put a round through the windshield of the truck and into the chest of the Neko in the driver's seat, which would in her death throes cause the truck to lurch to a stop or cause it to bolt, exposing the girls under and behind it to the elements and fire. A squad of fighters with air support was one thing. A sniper? One who could shoot in this storm? It would be time to go.

"Fire one. Cannot cinform hit. Switching targets." She quickly transitioned her aim to the Neko foolish enough to spark off Morris's combat shield and snapped off a shot to take her leg at the hip.

Though she didn't see it, the glass of the truck's observation bubble had vaporized, the Nekovalkyrja's head exploding in a plume of superheated gore as Mike's round passed through her and deeper into the truck. The second shot, though, was a miss, just heating up the armor enough for the wearer to feel the round's passing as Michelle jumped to her feet, slamming lense covers closed in a mad dash two hundred meters to her left, slide into the rocks, and re-aim her rifle to take another shot.

"Shot three is going for the commander, get me pos ID. Shot four the comm array."

 

[Charaa]

Auli'i was in deep focus, every muscle in her small frame coiled with tension as she aimed her Thunderer Heavy Rifle at the advancing enemy. The dust storm continued to swirl around her, but she had trained for conditions like this—adverse, unpredictable, and dangerous. Her fox ears twitched, picking up the faintest sounds as she locked onto her target: one of the corrupted Nekovalkyrja, the "squid kittens" that had become a twisted mockery of their former selves.

She held her breath, steadying her aim, and squeezed the trigger. The rifle roared to life, the powerful recoil reverberating through her arms as the square-tipped stopping round shot towards its target. But as soon as the bullet made contact, Auli'i's hopes were dashed. The round hit the Nekovalkyrja, but instead of a clean kill, it merely dinged the enemy, causing the figure to stagger and lose her momentum.

Auli'i couldn't help but let out a distinct fox-like sound of disappointment, a sharp yelp that betrayed her frustration. She had been so sure of her shot, so certain that the powerful stopping round would do the job. The Thunderer Heavy Rifle was no joke, and neither were the square-tipped rounds it fired—designed to knock down even the toughest opponents. But instead of the satisfying result she expected, all she managed to do was knock the wind out of her enemy's sails, leaving the Nekovalkyrja wounded but still standing.

She quickly pushed aside her disappointment. There was no time to dwell on a missed opportunity; the battlefield demanded her full attention. She watched as the corrupted Nekovalkyrja struggled to regain her balance, clearly shaken but far from defeated. Auli'i knew she needed to finish the job, but she also needed to be mindful of the bigger picture.

Her eyes flicked to the side, where she saw her mama, Tacho, preparing to launch her torpedoes. The sight of Tacho, and Mike in action gave Auli'i a renewed sense of purpose. Her mother was a force to be reckoned with, and Auli'i had always admired her skill and determination. She couldn't afford to let her down.

Refocusing her aim, Auli'i adjusted her grip on the Thunderer Heavy Rifle, readying herself for another shot. The enemy was still in her sights, and this time, she wouldn't make the same mistake. Her fingers tightened around the trigger as she tracked the Nekovalkyrja's movements, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The battlefield was a chaotic mix of noise and movement, but Auli'i had trained herself to block out distractions. Her world narrowed down to the target in front of her, the feel of the rifle in her hands, and the steady rhythm of her breathing. She could see Tacho's torpedoes streaking towards their targets, and she knew she had to time her shot just right to capitalize on the ensuing chaos.

As the torpedoes hit, causing a series of explosions that rocked the battlefield, Auli'i seized her moment. She fired again, this time with deadly precision, her determination fueling the shot. The Thunderer roared once more, and this time, there was no disappointed yelp—just the satisfaction of seeing her enemy go down for good.

The Nekovalkyrja crumpled to the ground, and Auli'i allowed herself a brief moment of triumph. But there was no time to celebrate; the battle was far from over. She quickly scanned the area for her next target, her mind sharp and focused, ready to continue the fight.

Auli'i knew that every shot counted, every decision mattered. She might be the smallest member of the team, but she was determined to make a big impact. With her mama and the rest of her family by her side, she was ready to face whatever the battlefield threw at her. The gribblies would regret ever crossing paths with Morri's team.